Advocacy

North Carolina Priorities:

• Legislation that empowers communities to address stormwater from parking lots and preexisting paved surfaces with out of date stormwater controls.
• State Trail designations and funds to promote public access to navigable waters and ensure waterway safety.
• Restoration programs and funds for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
• Mechanisms and guidelines to address failing dams.
• Additional funding for NC State Extension agents to help poultry farmers write waste management plans.

South Carolina Priorities:

• Funding and guidelines for the preservation of State Scenic Rivers.

Runoff, rainfall that flows over impervious surfaces instead of being absorbed into the ground, is a major source of water pollution and flooding in North Carolina. Parking lots and older infrastructure, like mills, built before modern runoff practices contribute significantly to this issue. As the state grows, updating regulations on such impervious surfaces is crucial to protecting our waterways and communities.

Catawba Riverkeeper is proposing legislation to:

• Eliminate local off-street parking minimum requirements for motorized vehicles.
• Ban the future purchase and importation of toxic high-PAH pavement products for use on parking lots.
• Provide guidance to local governments on addressing runoff and floodwater management during the redevelopment process.

Learn more here!

North Carolina state trails are designated corridors of natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational importance. NC is home to 14 such trails, spanning nearly 4,000 miles. These trails support local economies, offer recreational and educational opportunities, promote water safety, and protect natural areas.

Catawba Riverkeeper is proposing two new state trails for paddling:

• The South Fork Passage State Trail from Jacob Fork Park (Catawba County) to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (Gaston County). Click here to learn more!
• The Upper Catawba State Trail from headwater tributaries (McDowell, Burke, and Caldwell Counties) to Lookout Shoals Lake Dam (Catawba and Iredell Counties). Click here to learn more!

We need your help! As a community member and constituent, your voice can have a meaningful impact on our river. It is critical that your legislators and neighbors here why plentiful, clean water is important to you. 

• Follow your legislators on social media. Comment on their posts, tag them in Riverkeeper posts, share your support for Riverkeeper priorities, and let them know how you feel about their stance on these topics.
• Sign up for emails and newsletters from legislators to stay informed.
• Email your state legislators. Introduce yourself, urge them to support specific Riverkeeper priorities, and explain why you care.
• Write about your experiences, opinions, and ideas through letters to editors, neighborhood newsletters, social media posts, and blogs.
• Attend Riverkeeper events and invite your elected officials, candidates, friends, family, and neighbors.
• As always, support Catawba Riverkeeper!

Find your legislators here!

Vote like your river depends on it! Use the resources below to learn about voting and upcoming elections.

• You can find out what North Carolina district you live in here.
• You can find out what South Carolina district you live in here.
• Visit your county's Board of Elections webpage for detailed information on registering to vote, upcoming elections, candidates on the ballot, and more.